Bennett, Cook head list; options at left tackle limited after Bushrod

As the Bears have combed through the free agent left tackles, they undoubtedly have noticed the group has thinned out like the hair on Brian Urlacher's head.

The Broncos put the franchise tag on Ryan Clady. The Chiefs did the same to Brandon Albert. And the Giants recently locked up Will Beatty to a long-term deal.

The best remaining left tackle by far who could be on the market when free agency opens Tuesday is Jermon Bushrod of the Saints. The two-time Pro Bowl selection makes perfect sense for the Bears, given that he was developed by new Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer.

The fact he stands out among potentially available left tackles probably means Bushrod will have multiple suitors, and that probably means he will be overpaid.

This is not good news for the many teams in need of a left tackle. The Bears are one of at least a half-dozen teams in that market, along with the Cardinals, Chargers, Lions, Ravens and Saints.

So if the Bears can't get Bushrod and they intend on adding a front-line starter, what are they to do as they approach the starting line for free agency?

Here are their options:

A. Sign a lesser left tackle, such as the Dolphins' Jake Long, Falcons' Sam Baker or Ravens' Bryant McKinnie.

B. Go after a right tackle instead. The right tackle market could be considerably more appealing. Players who might be free include the Vikings' Phil Loadholt, Patriots' Sebastian Vollmer, Lions' Gosder Cherilus and Bengals' Andre Smith. Eric Winston also is available after the Chiefs cut him Wednesday.

C. Improve the line with an interior blocker. Intriguing guards who could be free include the Giants' Kevin Boothe, Bills' Andy Levitre, Jets' Brandon Moore and Chargers' Luis Vasquez.

D. Forget about a highly paid offensive lineman and address another need.

Option D may indeed be the route Bears general manager Phil Emery decides to explore when teams officially are permitted to begin negotiating with agents at 11 p.m. Friday. Contract signing is not permitted until 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Emery's first move likely will be to create salary-cap space. With about $3.55 million in cap room, the Bears don't have the look of free-agency high rollers.

But if space can be created — and it always can be — the Bears' best bet might be signing a tight end. Some good ones could be available, and it clearly is a position of need.

The most complete tight end, and the most intriguing, is Martellus Bennett. The Giants want him back, and they should.

He has good size at 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, and he has the speed to be a threat down the seam and create mismatches with safeties and linebackers. His hands are solid. And he is a sufficient blocker.

A second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2008 and one-time NBA prospect, Bennett made headlines early in his career mostly for his lack of commitment and his colorful personality.

But he has matured and had a breakout season with the Giants last year, catching 55 passes for 626 yards. He will be 26 next week and has room for improvement.

If it's a pure vertical threat the Bears are looking for at tight end, Jared Cook might be their man. The former third-round pick of the Titans ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the 2009 scouting combine. But NFL front-office men say he is a one-dimensional player who doesn't put much effort into blocking.

Cook has not been overly productive in Tennessee, but he never has played with a big-armed, experienced quarterback such as Jay Cutler. His best football should be ahead of him.

Brandon Myers of the Raiders isn't the same kind of athlete as Cook or Bennett, but he was more productive than either last year. He might not be a bad consolation prize.

Other big-name tight ends with expiring contracts are the Jets' Dustin Keller and Redskins' Fred Davis.

Another who could find himself on the market is the Packers' Jermichael Finley. If he is not cut by March 27, Finley will receive a $3 million bonus. He will take up $8.75 million of the Packers' cap space unless his deal is renegotiated.

Scouts say Finley is a similar player to Cook — not quite as fast but a better route runner. His lack of consistency is concerning.

Given the realities of free agency and the salary cap, the Bears probably won't be able to make another splashy acquisition as perfect for them as Brandon Marshall was a year ago.